Nairobi, People have revolted against the increase in taxes in the African country Kenya. People took to the streets. They even attacked the parliament. They set fire at many places. The police had to open fire to calm the rioters in the capital Nairobi, in which at least 10 people have died. Many people are said to be injured. The protesters are opposing the bill, after the implementation of which many types of taxes will increase.
According to Reuters, protesters have set fire to parts of the Kenyan Parliament. They are attacking the police so that they are allowed to enter. When the policemen tried to stop them, they got into a fight. They pelted stones at them. They hit them with sticks. When the policemen were not successful in stopping them, they opened fire. Thousands of protesters have entered the Parliament. Seeing the attack, the MPs there vacated the House. The matter escalated so much in Nairobi that the police had to even fire on the protesters. The protesters even stole the ceremonial mace from the Parliament.
Actually, the government of Kenya has approved a controversial finance bill, which if implemented will increase taxes in the country. The government says that it wants to reduce the burden of heavy debt on the country. It wants to raise an additional amount of 2.7 billion dollars through these taxes, because the debt on the country is so high that 37 percent of the government treasury is spent only in paying interest. People have been opposing the bill since the beginning. But as soon as this bill was approved, people became furious. They attacked the Parliament.
Eyewitnesses said that when clashes broke out between protesters on the streets of the capital Nairobi and other cities, the police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd. Bullets were also fired above the heads of the protesters, in response to which the protesters threw stones at the security forces. People are demanding that President William Ruto resign. Ruto won the election two years ago. But after the country’s financial condition worsened, he decided to introduce this bill.
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 25, 2024, 19:21 IST